Wristbands will serve as tickets for entry, all attendees must have a wristband to enter. Wristbands will begin shipping on October 2nd.
If you choose local pick up, you will be able to pick up your wristbands with a valid photo ID at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin, the week of October 16, 2023. Day of pick up will be available at the event zone box office on October 21st. More instructions for pick up times and dates will be sent via email closer to the event.


About the event:
Downtown Elgin will again be defending the city this year to keep everyone safe from the zombie infection. To ensure your survival, citizens are encouraged to proceed to the SAFE ZONE at Nightmare on Chicago Street.

Elgin’s Zombie Defense Initiative (ZDI) has sanctioned the area of Chicago Street from Grove to Villa, as well as portions of Douglas Avenue, S. Grove Avenue, S. Spring Street and DuPage Court, as the official boundaries of the SAFE ZONE. Venture outside this area at your own peril.

Although the SAFE ZONE has been deemed safe from the undead, we cannot guarantee that order will prevail. Expect businesses to be boarded up, vegetation reclaiming derelict buildings, creatures on the prowl, burning tires and barrels of toxic waste littering the streets, abandoned cars, buses and even airplanes damaged and overturned, as well as stray zombies being taken for processing and study. Do not fear! Your safety is Team ZDI's top priority. Opportunities to purchase food, alcoholic beverages, and goods will be available.

VIP Parking 
VIP parking passes: $50. A VIP parking pass is not a ticket to Nightmare on Chicago Street. A separate ticket will need to be purchased for entry to the event. The VIP parking pass allows for one vehicle to park in the parking deck next to the Safe Zone at 200 E Chicago St. Guests will need to show their VIP parking ticket at the Highland St entrance to gain entry to the parking deck. Guests will then need to exit the parking deck and enter the event via an event gate.